Apparatus for making electrical coils



- Jan. 30, 1945. H. P. VON KNAUF APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS Filed Oct. 28, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 1 Y 1945- i H P. VON KNAUF I APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS 10 Sheets- S heet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1940 Jan. 30, 1945. H. P. VON KNAUF 7 2,368,389

, APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS Filed Oct. 28, i940 10 Sheets-Sheet s w, W w'" v I n III]. IIIIIIII 1945. H. P. VON KNAUF APPARATUS FOR MAKING" ELECTRICAL CQILS 1O Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 28, 1940 J xya r Z? Vozzlizzazf Jan. 30, 1945.

H. P. VON KNAUF APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 (fiZVf/Z far Filed Oct. 28, 1940 Jan. 30, 1945.

H. P. VON KNAUF 2,368,389

7 APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS Filed Oct. 28, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet Jan. 30, 1945. H. P. VON 'KNAUF 2,368,389 f APPARATUS FOR MAKI ENG ELECTRICAL COILS I Filed Oct. 28, 1940 10 Sheets-Sfieet 8' APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICAL COILS 1o Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 28, 1940 Patented Jam. 30,

mm 1*. Von Knauf; Chicago, 111.

- Application mm 2;, 1940, Serial No. 3 3,115

26 Claims.

This invention relates to'a'n apparatus for making-electrical coils and in particular to the method and apparatus for making loop antenna coils of flat form type for radio apparatus. This application'is a continuation inpart of application Serial No. 333,299, filed May 4, 1940.

Coils of flat type-are particularly applicable to be assembled as an integral part of a radio set to form a compact and complete receiving unit. Prior "coils of this general type, however, are rather expensive in cost so that, particularly in. portable-radio sets, "the. cost of the set is greatly increased by the initial cost of the coil.

Further, since the coil is usually housed within the radio cabinet, the size or bulk of the coil directly affects the size of the cabinet and hence also the overall cost of .the set. Many attempts have been made in the prior art to commercially produce flat coils which overcome these 'diilicul ties but these attempts have not been entirely satisfactory because of the generally costly as-:.

sembly of the coil to its mounting plate andthe 'bulk of the complete coil unit..

Itis an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved apparatus for makingelectrical coils. I

t Another objectof this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for commercially producing flat type coils at a low cost whereby to extend the use and application of such coils.

' Yet another object of this inventionis to-provide an improved apparatus for manufacturing coils which is-simple and rugged in construction and which may be operated by an unskilled operator to efliciently produce coils of a. uniform I construction'in a minimum of time.

Another object of-this invention-is to provide a paratus for making a coilunit in which the machining operations on the coil mounting plate are performed substantially simultaneously with the assembly of the coil winding'to the plate to in all reduce the' manufacturing costs ofthe coil to a minimum.

A feature of this invention is found in the provision of apparatus for making coils which is readily adapted to Droduc coils' of fiat type in a. lurality of shapes with a minimum change in the operating parts thereof.

A further feature of this'invention is the provision of apparatus for making coils having a flat base member with a spiral groove formed in one side thereof forreceiving a winding, in which the operations of cutting the groove and the disposition of the winding in the'sroove are performed-substantially simultaneously. v

(cl. ae-s3) Yetzanother feature of this invention is the provision of apparatus for making coils having a flat mounting plate with a spiral groove formed in a side thereof for receiving a winding, which operates to form a groove with smooth unbroken edges adapted to retain and lock the winding thereunder. g

A. still further feature of this invention is the provision of apparatus for cutting a spiral groove in a flat rotating member in which a groove cutter at substantially constant speed is moved across the, face of the rotating member, while the rotational speed of the rotating member is automatically increased as the cutter approaches the'center of the spiral, whereby to maintain substantially uniformthe rate at which, the groove is being cut.

Further objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent from the following description when .taken in connection 4 with the accompanying drawings in which:

coil unit atone time s Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly tions of thegroove cutter and winding laying 3 1 Fig. 3 is a sectional view Fig. 4 is. a sectional view taken taken on'line 3- 3in along the line Fig. 5 is a plan view of a working'table used in the apparatus of Fig. 1 for the making of loop coils of circular form;

Fig. 6 is a view illustrated s arly'to Fig. 5 showing a working table usedin the making of coils of substantially oval or elliptical form: Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-1 in Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 isa front elevational view of a multipiece coil unit made by. use of the working table illustrated. in Fig. 5;

' Fig-1 is" a view in perspective showing one form of the improved apparatus for making a single in section showing the relative operating posi-- Fig. 9 is a sectional view as seen along the:

line 9-9 in Fig. 8; g v

Fig. '10 is a plan view of the loops in the coil unit of Figs. 8 and .9 before their separation;

Y Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a modifled form of wire laying means; 1

Fig. 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration showing the link system of the wire laying means of Fig. 11 at the start or the groove'cut f ting operation;

66 Fig. s is a,view illustrated similarly to'Fig. 12

showing the arrangement of the link system at the end of the groove cutting operation;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of the improved apparatus for producing a rim-- rality of coil units at one time;

Fig- 15 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary end elevation lookin toward the left as viewed in Figs. 14 and 15;

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of a variable speed device for the working tables in the apparatus shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a view illustrated similarly to Fig.

16 showing parts thereof in a changed position;

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the groove cutting and wire laying means used inthe apparatus of Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a bottom view of the groove cutting and wire laying means shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a detailed fragmentary view partly in section showing the relative operating positions of the groove cutter and wire laying means 4 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a view illustrated similarly to Fig. 19 showing the parts thereof in changed position;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of a working table for the apparatus of Fig-14 which is used in the making of coils of circular form;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a working table for the apparatus, of Fig. .14 which is used in the making of coils orsubstantially oval or elliptical form;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view line 25-23 of'Fig- 24;

.Fig.. 26 is a sectional view taken 23-23 in Fig. 23; and

as seen along the along the line Fig. 27-is a view partly in section showing the worm gear and screw shaft assembly used in'the ther includes adjustable means for positively delining the limits of traverse of the cutter over the mounting plate and means for raising the cutter from the plate at the completion of the cutting operation, whereby to cut the groove of a predetermined length.- Sincethe coil winding is continuousand coextensive in length with the length of the groove the electrical characteristics of a particular run of coils are thus maintained substantially uniform.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus is seen to include a supporting base 36 and frame members 31 and 33 having guiding rods or ways 39 secured therein. A carriage 4| including a pivotally supported cutting head 42 is slidably supported on the rods 39- Arranged between the guides 39 and rotatably mounted in the members 31 and 33, is a screw shaft 43 which is in driving engagement with the carriage 4| through threaded connection with a half nut 44 which is carried on the carriage. A collar 46 freely rotatable on the lower guide 38 serves as a support for the lower portion of the carriage 4|, the carriage being pivotally movable on the upper guide 39 away from the screw shaft 43, for a purpose to be later described. A driving gear 41 mounted at one end of the screw shaft 43 is operatively associated with a driving motor 48 through gear 49, belt or chain connection. 5| and reduction gears 52 and 53. A variable driving speed of the screw shaft 43 is obtained through the reduction gears 52 and 53 apparatus of Fig. 14 for driving the carriage than the overall size of the mounting plate.

One commercial form of this type of coil unit is shown in Fig. 5. The coil all is of substantially flat shape, the mounting plate 3| thereof having a continuous spiral groove 32 formed in one side thereof.- As shown in Fig. 2 the groove 32 is inclined or slanted inwardly toward the center of the coil so that thegroove edge or lip 33 extends over the bottom of the groove. Thus the wire or winding 34 when laid within the groove assumes a position below and underneath the edge 33 so as to be locked in the groove by such groove edge. In the making of this type of coil by the improved apparatus of this invention the mounting member 3| is placed in a suitable jig or supporting table and rotated while a groove cutter angularly inclined relative to the mounting member is moved across the face thereof at a uniform rate and along a radius of the coil. The coil winding, during the roove cutting operation. is laid within the formed groove by wire laying means movable with the cutter across the mounting plate and in a substantially immediate following position relative to the cutter. The groove cutting and wire laying operations are thus performed substantially concurrently so that the assembly of the coil unit is substantially. complete at the time the groove ,is finished. The apparatus fillso as to vary the rate of movement of the carriage 4| longitudinally of the screw shaft in an obvious manner. The motor shaft 54 is extended for direct connection with a vertical drive shaft 56 which drives a work table 51 rotatably supported on the base 36. It is to be understood. however, that gears (not shown can be interposed between the shaft 54 and motor 43 to provide a variable speed drive for the shaft 56.

The cutting head 42 includes a cutter 58 (Fig. 2) which is formed with a succession of teeth and mounted at one end of a shaft 59 for a high speed motor 6|. The cutter 53 is positioned between holding or friction collars 62 and 63 having correspondingly sloped peripheral surfaces for slidably engaging or rolling on the upper surface of the base plate 3| for a purpose to be later fullyexplained. By virtue of the cutting head 42 being pivotally mounted on the carriage 4| the peripheral slope of the collars 62 and 63 determines the cutting angle of the cutter 53 relative to the horizontally extending base plate 3|. Further since the collars 52 and 63 are in flush engagement with the upper surface of the coil supporting member 3|, the depth of the groove 32 is determined by that portion of the cutter 58 which projects beyond the peripheries of the collars .62 and 83. The collars are locked in frictional engagement with the cutter 58 by a lock nut 54 which is threadably secured to the end of the motor shaft 59.

With the cutter 53 thus arranged to cut a slanting groove in the base plate 3 l, the coil wire or winding 34 embedded in the groove 32 is positioned in the groove at a similar angle to prevent any injury or damage to the groove edges which, as previously explained, serve to lock the winding within the groove. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the

wire 34 is fed from a spool 63 which is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the carriage 4|. The wire 34, from the spool 58, is passed through a guide 61 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) into a guiding groove 88 formed in a housing member 88 for a roller or disc having a groove for retaining the wire formed in theperipheral surface thereof. The

member 59 and disc II are carried by a bracket 12 which is secured to an arm 18 pivotally connected at one end to the carriage 4|. The disc II is of a thickness somewhat less than that of the cutter 58 so as to clear the edges of the groove chine is provided with the plate supporting or working table 14 shownin Fig. 5. The table-14 is operation is the same for either circular or elliptical coils. In the setting of, the apparatus the carriage 4| is pivotaily moved about the upper way 39 in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, and/or away from the screw shaft 43, this pivotal movement disengaging thehalf nut 44 from the shaft 48 and positioning the cutter head I 42 and roller assembly 1| entirely clear of the table 51. The base member 3| is then secured in place on the table by suitable holders 88 arranged at each corner of the plate 8|.

On swinging of the carriage back to its normal operating position. inengagement with the screw shaft 43 the cutter 58 and disc II are pivotally moved upward out of engagement with the plate 3| by manipulation of levers 89 and 9|, respectively. With the rotatably-supported on the base 88 withits center in substantial alignment with the axis of the shaft 55. On operation of the motor 48 the table 14 is rotated concurrently with the moving of the cutter 58-across the plate 8|, the combined effects of these two movements providing for the formation of a' circular spiral groove in the plate 3|.

When an elliptical or oval loop is being made,

the 'jig or tablestructure 51 shown in Figs. '6 andv 7, is substituted for the plate supporting table I4. The bed plate 16 for the structure 51 is secured to the supporting base 35 and is formed with a bearing ll for receiving the vertical shaft 55. A

coil of a predetermined size the cutter 58 is positioned on'the plate 8| outwardly from the major, axis of the loop a distance substantially equal to one-halfthe length of the minor diameter or axis of the coil, This position of the cutter may be defined by a suitable stop'member, such as. 92

gear 18 mounted on the end of the shaft 55 is inmeshing engagement with agear l8 which is rotatably supported on a stub-shaft or'pin 8| mounted in the bed plate 16. The'ge'ar I8 is in meshing engagement with a continuous rack 82 of substantiallyoval shape, which is formed of a plurality of segments 83 attached to the lower side of the supporting table 51 by means of screws 84. Driving of the gear I9, therefore, by the gear 18 moves the rack 82 about the gear 18, the rack and gear I8 being maintained in meshing .en-

gagement by a disc 86 arranged between the bot.-

' tom of the working table 51 and the top side of the gears 18 and 19. The disc 86 is of a diameter which is substantially equal to the minor axis of the oval rack 82. By virtue of the sliding engagement between the edge of the disc and the rack 82 a swinging or-pivotal movement of the rack mounted on the guide rod 38. The thickness of the cutter 58 is determinedbythe gauge of the coil winding 84 and is contemplated to be-substantially equal in width to the diameter of such wire to provide for the wirebeing firmly imbedded in the groove-82 to be formed. In one,

application of theinvention-the cutter 58, and hence also the wire feeding disc I I, which is arranged parallel to'the cutter 58, are positioned at an angle of about 28 degrees fromthe vertical, the friction collars 82 and being of a size such that the groove depth is about three times the radius of the wire 84. In this instance it is contemplated that'the base plate 3| have a thickness substantially equal to twice the diameterof the winding 34. A desired spacing between the adjacent groove portions is obtained by a proper selection of the gears 49, .52 and 53, relative to the gear '41, which gears control the speed f rotation of the screw shaft 43.

On starting of the motor 48 for the table 51 and carriage 58, the cutter head 42 is moved axially of the screw shaft 48 in a direction toward 7 the center'of the supporting plate 3| In the makabout .the gear 19 .is substantially eliminated.

The elliptical movement of the table 51 'thuscorresponds to'the elliptical shape .of the rack 82.

'On. rotation of the shaft 55. therefore, gears 18 and 19 and rack 82 coact to' elliptically rotate the table 51.

versely of the table 51. by the screw shaft "48, as

Since the cutter, 58 is moved transing of elliptical coils this movement of the cutter head 42 is such as to, move the cutter '58 in an "axial direction relative to the motor shaft 58,

theaxis of which in the initial setting of the cutter is arranged in the vertical plane 'of on of' X the axes of the elliptical rack 82. In the making of a circular coil the axis of the motor shaft 59 willbe explained, an elliptical spiral groove'is 1 formed in the plate 3|. A change in the sizezof, the oval or elliptical coil is readily obtained by' increasing or decreasing the length f I the straight side portion of the rack 82, the table, 81

being formed with suitable threaded apertures the cutter head 42 and'the disc 1| are-used for the making of both the circular and elliptical coils, the machine provides for the makingof a j plurality of coilsof varying contours and sizes 7,

by simply'interchanging the Jig or table structures 51 and 14. 7

The o eration of the machine is best under- .hhgstqod from Figs. 1 through 4, and will. be described with reference to the elliptical loop shown in Fig. 1-, although it is to be understood that the 81 for the screws 84 to provide for any desired I change in the length of these portions; Since is initially arranged to extend through the center of the-plate 8|. After the machine has operated to cut agroove comprised of several loops the motor 48 is stopped and the wire feeding disc li is moved pivotally downward into the first formed loop. It is to be understood, of course, that the cutter 58 and disc when in their relative oper ating positions, are spaced a predetermined dis-- tance'apart, which is incorrespondence with the desired spacing of the groove loops. Thus 0n.a restarting of the motor 48 the groove is cut concurrently with a laying of the Wire therein. As will be later explained, the improved apparatus can be .modifiedto perform these two operations substantially concurrently on an initial starting of the motor 48. This operation'of the machine continues until the groove 32 has been ex nded to adesired length, at which time the cutter 5a is moved out of,engagement with the plate 8| by the handle 8| and the wire feeding disc H is 1 maintained in operationuntil the wife has been laid in the grooveover its entir length; The

, 39 as defined by the stop 92.

plate 3|.

:oil is thus completely assembled and the ma- :hine is arranged for the making of a second coil by pivotally swinging the carriage 39 out oftengagement with the screw shaft 44 and moving it back to its starting position along the upper guide The wire 34, as previously mentioned, is retained in the groove 32 by the locking action of the groove edge or lip portion 33. This lip is formed by the inclination of the cutter 58 inwardly toward the center of the coil mounting In this way the bottom portion of the groove is positioned closer to the center of the coil than its corresponding upper portion. The wire 34 in its position in the groove is thus also positioned closer to the center of the loop than the upper portion of the groove and is out of vertical alignment with such upper portion. By virtue of this groove construction the wire is firmly positioned in the base plate 3i and can only be removed from the groove by a complete breaking or tearing away of the lip portion 33.

In the cutting of a spiral grcove,'particularly in'a base "plat formedof a shreddable material such as cardboard, composition board or the like, considerable trouble was encountered in the prior art machines by the undercutting or tearing of the groove edge 33 and ribbon portions 93 (Fig. 5) between adjacent groove loops. This difliculty is entirely eliminated in the present invention so that the groove 32 is formed with sound and unbroken edges'and with substantially solid. or rigid portions 93 between the adjacent groove portions. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. 3, by rotating the cuter 58 in a direction to out downwardly 4 into the plate member 3| so that the biting action of the teeth in the material is downwardly toward the supported body portion of the plate member 3| rather than upwardly toward the unsupported upper surface of the plate 3|. In other words, and as is clearly indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3, the cutter 58 is rotated in a direction to cut with the direction of movement of the member 3| at the zone of cutting engagement. To further assure an accurate forming of the groove 32 the friction collars or rollers 82 and 63 are in supporting engagement with the edges of the groove at the zone adjacent the cutter 58, to hold the edges from being moved upwardly by the cutter.

apparatusof Figs. 1 to 7, may be adapted on an initial starting of the motor 48 to cut the groove 32 substantially concurrently with a laying of the wire 34 therein. In the making of a circular spiral coil as above fully described, the cutter 58 is arranged to move on a center line or radius of the coil in a direction which is parallel to the movement of the carriage 4|. By virtue of this arrangement. the plane of the cutter 58 is always substantially/ in a plane tangent to the groove being cut at the junction of the groove with the above-noted radius line. 1 Since the wire feeder or guiding disc 'II is spaced 9. distance of about two grooves behind the cutter 58, and

arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the cutter 58, the disc II is also in a plane tangent to the groove at such radius line. Where the disc II is in an immediate following relation with respect to the cutter 53, as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, it is angularly displaced to one side of the radius or center line indicated as 95, sothat during the movement of the carriage 4| across the plate 3| the disc II crosses the spaces 93 between the groove portions at an angle such that the distance which it covers in crossing a space is greater than that which is covered by the cutter 58. Also with the disc 'II positioned tangent to the radius line 91, angularly disposed from the center line 96, it is readily apparent that as the disc approaches the center of the coil vit tends to position itself transversely of the groove rather than within the groove as indicated by its dotted-line position shown in Fig. 12. This positioning of the disc is due to its movement on a line parallel with the center line 96 and to the fact that the groove spiral becomes progressively smaller towards the center of the coil. Thus with the disc 'llfsubstantially immediately following the cuttatably supporting the roller disc 'II.

tr 58, its motion toward the center of the coil must be directed so that it is retained in the groove for all operating positions thereof. This is accomplished by a link system or mechanism 94 for the disc II, illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 and which will now be explained.

The link mechanism;94 includes a supporting member 98 for the disc II having one end pivotally connected at 99 to the carriage 4|. The opposite end ofthe member 98 is formed with a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the disc shaft IOI which has a pin I02 extending transversely therethrough near its lower end for ro- A lever I03 is fixedly secured at one end to the upper end of the shaft IOI, its opposite end being pivotally connected to an upwardly extending arm I04, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a lever I06 intermediate its ends I01 and I08. End I01 of the lever I00 is pivotally connected to a portion of the frame structure 31, while end I08 is pivotally connected to one end of a link'I09, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to the carriage 4| at III, which pivot point is in vertical alignment with the pivotal connection 99. Adjustment of the mechanism 94 for a particular loop size is made at pivotal connections III and H2, the link I09 being slidably movable relative to the pivot III and the lever I04 bein slidably movable relative to the arm I06 to shift the position of the pivotal connection IIZ thereon. y

In the adjustment of the link mechanism 94 a groove 32of a desired size and length is first completely out in a mounting plate 3|. With this plate in' position on the supporting table I4 the disc II is placed in its initial starting position by suitable adjustment of the pivotconnections III and H2. Thecarriage 4| is then.

moved to a'position such that the cutter 58 is substantially at the end of the groove out. Since the disc II is movable with the cutter 58 its position at this end position of the cutter is checked so as to assure its proper travel over the entire traverse-of the plate 3|. The starting and end positions of the disc 'II relative to the groove 32 are thus utilized in obtaining a correct setting of the link mechanism. At the completion of this setting the disc 'II is ready for operation.-

to the coil center line 96. The cutter in this position is operated while the table 14 is rotated only sufllciently to provide for a; groove having a length equal to a predetermined spaced distance between the centers of thejcutter 58 and disc H. In practice it is contemplated that 'this distance be about four inches, thediameters of the cutter 58 and disc H being about three-quarters of an inch. The disc is then positions}. in'

the groove 32 with its-plane substantially tangent to the radius line 91. With the cutter 56 and disc H thus relatively arranged, the machine is set into operation, which operation is continued until'the groove 32 is cut to the desired length. As shown in'Fig. 13 the d sc H, by virtue of the link mechanism 94, is progressively moved into a more lagging position relawinding 34A necessary to make the large loop H6 of a predetermined size are counted by the operatorand theapparatus is stopped, Wire 34 is then cut and the disc 1| pivotally raised out of engagement with the plate 3| and the apparatus restarted with only the cutter 58 in operation. When the spacing between the'loops H4 tive to the cutter 58 and retained in the groove 32 fdr the entire length. thereof. Thus on completion of the cutting of the groove 32, the disc 1| is 'n the position shown in Fig. 13, and normal to the radius line H3, which is angularly displaced irom the, initial radius line 96' by the amount indicated therebetween. The link mechanism 94 thus operates to move the disc H in a manner toeontinuously follow the contour of the groove 32 in a, substantially'immediate following position relative to the butter 58 to provide for the laying of the wire in the groove substantially concurrently with the st rting of operation of the cutter. I

The apparatus in Figs. 1 to '7 has been described above in connection with the making of coils of unitary structure, namely, a cell having fect particular operating characteristics. One

commercial embodiment of a multi-loop coil is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the loops H4 .and

H6being mounted at rightangles with; respect and H6 is such that the outer turn of the small loop I I6 is of the proper diameter, that is in correspondence with the size of the loop I I4, the apparatus is again stopped and the disc H pivoted downwardly into its operating position relative 9 to the cutter 58and plate 3|. Thus on a restarting plat 3| after the above described operations,

is seen to be formed with a continuous groove 32, having winding lengths 36A and 34B arranged in portions thereof and corresponding to the de- 9 "sired sizes and electrical characteristics of the 3 loops I I4 and H6, respectively. The extent of to each other on a common mounting bar 1. The loops are electrically related to provide for a non-directional quality of the coil by an electrical connecting thereof rather than by mechanical means for rotating the complete coilunit the winding lengths 34A and 34B and groove length H9 therebetween, is readily obtained by the operator counting the turns made by the table 14 during the operation ofthe apparatus. This is simply accomplished by positioning a suitable marker as indicated at |2| in Fig. 10, near the edge of the mounting plate 3| so as to be plainly visible to the operator.

Plate 3|, on its removal from the table l4, is

cutalong the circular marking I22 indicated-in dotted lines in Fig. 10, to form the separate loops ||4 and H6 having mounting plates 3|A and 3| B, respectively. This cutting may be done by 1 placing the plate 3| in a machine (not shown). in which a suitable cutteris positioned somewhat similarly to the cutter '58 in Fig. 1 and er..- ranged to cut entirely through the plate 3|. A

. separation of the windings 34A and 3413 may also H8, it is contemplated that the signal .induced in the large loop H4 be substantially equivalent to that received by the small loop I I6. Since the with the diameter and number of turns in each of the loops H'l and H 6, this fiat signal gain is p m. As illustrated, the loops 4 and||6 are of circular form. However, the loops may also be made of elliptical shape as will be apparent from the following operating description of the improved apparatus when making the coil unit l8.

The assembly of the apparatus is similar in all respects to that shownin Fig. 1, with the cutter the loops being in diametrical alignment.

be formed by cutting the mounting plate 3| with a cutting knife or like means (not shown) along that portion of the circular marking I22 indi--, cated between the-lines 0-41, the groove 32 in theplate being of sufficient depth so that the loop H4 ma :be broken out from the mounting plate 3|. The loops H4 and H6 are mounted on the common mounting bar or support H1 at right angles to each other, with the smaller loop H6 extending through the larger loop H6 and Although the coil 8 has been described withspeciflc reference to the' forming of two loops H4 and H6 it is to. be understood that any desired number of loops may be formed from a single mounting plate 3| in a manner similar to that above described.

Referring to Figs. 14 through 27, there s sh wn a modified form of the improved apparatus which is adapted to make a plurality of similarly constructed coils at one time. As shown in Figs.

.14 and 15, the machine is seen to include trame pinion gear I3I is mounted at the lower end of each shaft I21 in meshing engagement with a corresponding gear I3IA mounted on a longitudinally extending power shaft I32, rotatably supported on the table I26. Shaft I32 is common to all of the shafts I21 and is driven from the shaft I21A.

Vertically spaced above the table I26 is a carriage structure I33 movably supported on the frame standards I23 and I24 for movement laterally of the table I26 and including substantially U-shaped brackets I34 which are mounted on thelower side thereof. The brackets I34 correspond in number with the shafts I21 and I21A, each bracket being similarly arranged with the axis of its corresponding shaft passing substantially intermediate. its leg portions I36. Each bracket I34 serves as a mounting member for the cutter assembly '42 and a wire guiding element I31 of rod-like or cylindrical shape. Since each bracket and its associated structure are similarly constructed only one thereof will be referred to in the following description.

As shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 22, each leg member I36 of a bracket I34 is provided with a bushing member I38 which extends partially within the bracket I34. Pivot pins I33 threadably secured in the bushings I38 pivotally support the cutter assembly 42 between the bracket legs, mounting arms I for the guiding element I31 being pivotally supported on the inwardly extending element I31, and indicated as BB in Fig. 21, varies with the coil size. With the angular inclination of the cutter 56 toward the center of the coil set by the peripheral slope of the collars 62 and 63. the adjustment of the element I31 to an operating position relative to the cutter is accomplished by the adjusting screws I43 and I44, the guiding end I46 of the element I31 being positioned as close as possible to the cutter but sufliciently removed therefrom to permit of a free pivotal movement of the element I31 away from the plate 3I independently of the cutter. As is clearly shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the guiding end I46 is flat and formed with a small notch for guiding the winding 34 into the groove 32. The element I31 thus only slidably engages the plate 3I so that the winding 34 is placed in the groove 32 flush with the topsurface of the plate 3|. The winding spool I41 (Fig. 14) is rotatably supported on a bracket I48 mounted on the car-- rlage structure I33 above its associated guiding element I31.

The carriage I33 and rotating table I43 connected to each gear I23 are operated by a common motor I5I' which is mounted on a supporting platform I52 suitably secured to the frame standard I23 (Figs. 14, 16 and 18). Driving connection from themotor I5I tothe power shaft I32 for the vertical drives I21 driving the tables I43 is accomplished through the motor pulley I53, variable speed pulley assembly I54, pulley I56, gear or transmission box I51, and shaft I58, the end I53 of which is in driving engagement with the vertical shaft I2'IA. The opposite end I6I of the shaft I58 is provided with a gearsprocket I62 which is in chain engagement with a second sprocket I63 mounted on a shaft I64 supported in the frame standard I23 (Fig. 15). A gear I66 also mounted on the shaft I64 is in 0 meshing engagement with a gear I61 mounted ing end portion of the bushings I38. Thu al though the assembly head 42 and element I31 .are both pivotally supported on the bushings I38,

each is pivotally movable independently of the other. By virtue of the relative arrangement of each bracket member I34 with respect to its cor-.

ture I33 transversely of the table I26, each cutter 58 and element I31 remain in such plane for all operating positions of the carriage member.

The free ends of the mounting arms I have arranged therebetween a holder I42 for the guiding element I31. The holder I42 is rotatably adjustable between the arms I and is frictionally locked therebetween by an adjusting screw I43. On release of the screw I43, therefore, the holder I42 is adjustable to vary the position of the element I31 relative to the cutter 58. Vertical adjustment of the element I31 is accomplished by a friction screw I44 supported in the holder I42. As previously mentioned in connection with Fig. 2, the diameter of the collars 62 and 63, positioned on opposite sides of the cutter 58, determines the depth of the groove 32 formed in the supporting plate 3I. Since the width of the groove and the spacing between adjacent groove loop portions are determined by a particular size coil, it is apparent that the distance between the cutter'68 and the wire guidon a screw shaft I68, which is in meshing engagement with a worm gear I63 mounted on an extending portion I1l.of the carriage I33. The extension Ill and a second extension I12 slidably support one end of the carriage I33 on the screw shaft I68, its opposite end being provided with a roller bearing I13 which is in rolling engagement with a way member I14 mounted on the standard member I24. The motor I6I is thus seen to be common to the shaft I32 and carriage I33, the operation of these parts being manually controlled by a lever I16 for a clutch mechanism I11 which is operatively associated with the transmission box I51.

In the cutting of the spiral groove 32 with the .cut'progressing from the circumference toward the center of the plate 3I', as was fully explained above in connection with Figs. '1 through '1, the

rate at which the groove is cut decreasesas the cutter approaches the center of the plate, due to the decreasing size of the groove loops. The rate at which the plate material can be cut to prevent any possible injury to the groove edges is determined by the plate'speed at the outer groove loop. This, of course, assumes the speed of the cutter 58 as being constant; With the decrease in loop size toward the center of the plate the cutting speed near the center is thus reduced below the predetermined safe cutting speed for the plate so that the end portion of the groove is out at a slower speed than is necesssary.

The time for the groove cutting operation is,

assumes appreciable proportions and correspondingly increases the manufacturing costs of the coils. This loss of time is eliminated in this invention by automatically increasing the rotational speed of the plate supporting tables I49 as the cutter 58 proceeds toward the center of the plate pr mounting member 3|. 1 Referring to Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18, the variable /speed pulley assembly I54 is seen to include-pulleys I18 and I19 mounted on a common shaft'IBI which is rotatably supported in rocker arms I82 and I83. The arms I82 and I83 are pivotally supported at their lower ends in a mounting bracket I84 which is positioned on the frame member I52. The-pulleys I18 and I19 are'belt connected with the motor pulley I53 and pulley I56, respectively, and erect a variable speed type.

pulleys I56 and'I'I8 is decreased so that the corresponding faces of the pulley I19 are axially moved. together to increase the pulley ratio between the pulleys I56 and I18. By virtue of the relative diameters of the-pulleys I18and I19, the pivotal movement of the pulley assembly I54 to the left increases the rotational speed of the pulley I56 and hence the rotational speed of the That is, the corresponding faces'of each pulley I18 and I19 are axially movable away from each ture I23 and-carries alsoa control. pulley I93 having a groove in the peripheral portion thereof. The pulley I93 is providedwith angularly spaced stops I94 and I96, which are-relatively.

adjustable radially .of the pulley for operative engagement with the control lever I9I. A chain shaft I58, which is in operative driving engagement with both the power shaft I32 and the screw shaft I88. It is thus seen that when the carriage I33 isuniformly moved toward the right as viewed in Figs. lfi'and 18, the control mechanism I9I--I93 p-ivotally moves the pulley assembly I 54 to the left whereby to uniformly and relatively increase the rotational speed of both'the supporting tables I48 and the screw shaft I68.

This uniform increase in speed continues until the lever 'I9I' is in a substantially vertically upright or neutral position, at which time the presswept the spring 28I, as "applied through the I chain I81 pulls the lever I9I in a clockwise direction at a rate fasterthan the speed'of rotation of thepulley I93; With the pulling of the lever I9I beyond its neutral position by the spring .1, the lever end 283 is disengaged from the stop I96 while the end I89 engages the stop I94, This downward movement of the lever end I89 permits the pulley assembly I54 to be pivotally moved toward the right to the position shown in Fig. 18.

. The tension in the belt connection between the or belt I91 positioned in the peripheral groove of the pulley I93 is connected at one end to the carriage portion I12 and at its opposite end to a coil spring I98, which is secured as at I88 to a latch or hook mounted on the frame structure at one end to the catch I89, its opposite end being connected to the end I86 of-the rocker arm I82.

As indicated in Fig. 16, the carriage I33 is in its starting position which is defined by engagement of the portion I12 with a stop member 282 adjustably mounted on the frame structure I23. This position defines also the starting or circum ferential position of the cutter 58 on the plate 3 I. On starting of the motor I5 I, the screw shaft I68 is driven, through the previously described transmission system, to move the carriage I33 toward the right as viewed in Figs. 16 and 18. By virtue of the chain connection I81 this carriage movement rotates the pulley I93 in a clockwise direction, as also viewed in Figs. 16 and 18, against the tension pressureof the spring I 88. With the carriage I33 in its starting position, the stop I96 whereby to correspondingly move the pulleys I18 and I19.- This movement of the pulley assembly I54, as is best seen in Fig. 1'1, increases the tension in the belt connection between the motor pulley I 53 and the pulley I18. This increased Pulley I93 thus also moves- I23. A second coil spring 28I is also connected pulleys I58 and I19 is thus increased whereby to decrease the driving-ratio between such pulleys, while the ratio between the pulleys I53 and I18 is increased. This change in the above-noted pulley ratios decreases the rotational speeds of both'the" power shaft I32 and screw "shaft I68. Since this decrease in speed occurs immediately as the lever I8;I passes its neutral position, the drop in the'rotational speed of the table I49 is readily observed for a purpose to be later explained. On movement of the carriage I33 back to its starting position against the stop 282 the spring 28I returns the lever I9I to its startin position shown in Fig. 16, with the lever end 283 in abutting engagement with the stop I96..-

As illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, 16, and, 18, the supporting table I 49 for the plate 3| is adapted for the cutting of a coil of elliptical shape. This table is shown in detail in Figs. 24 and 25, and includes a flat upper base member 284 secured to a lower base member 286. It, is contemplated that the member 284 b provided in wood orother of the table hold the plate 3I in place during the operation of the machine. The base member 286 is constructed .of a suitable metal and servs as a mounting for an elliptical rack 288, which is secured to the lower side of the table. In setting up the table I48 on the. machine, one of the circular end or loop portions of the rack 288 i assembled in meshing engagement with the drivtension axially moves the corresponding faces of V .the pulley I18 away from each other whereby to decrease the ulley ratio between the pulleys I53 and -.I'18,in an obvious manner. The rotational speed of the pulley I18 and hence of the pulley shaft I8I isthus correspondingly decreased. However, the tension in the belt connecting the ing gear I28 ona vertical shaft I21 a shown in Fig. 15, the rack being of a thickness sufficient to slidably engage the stationary table or-bed I28. The gear I29 is of a's'elected size relative to the circular end portion of the elliptical rock 288, such that it meshes with the rack, but substantially eliminates any wobble or pivotal movement of thetable I48 relative thereto. That is, the gear I29 not only serves to rotate the table I49 but also acts to guide the table during its rotation in a. manner to follow the elliptical contour of the rack 288.. In one form of the table I48 the gear 129 is formed with sixty teeth while the circular or loop end portion of the elliptical rack is formed with thirty-six teeth. This tooth ratio provides for a self-locking engagement between the gear and the rack so that the rack closely follows the gear for all operating positions of the table 149.

Additional guiding of the table 149 to follow the elliptical contour of the rack 2091s obtained by a guide rail 209. (Fig. which i mounted longitudinally of the stationary table 126. The rail 209 is of segmental form with a roller 211 being positioned between adjacent segment ends and on a center line of the gear 129. In rotating the table 149, therefore, the rack 208 is in meshing engagement on one side with the gear 129 and in rolling engagement with the roller 211 on the side thereof immediately opposite the zone of meshing engagement. The table'149 on the initial engagement of a flat side of the rack 208 with the guide rail 209 tends to be thrown away from the rail, whereby to deviate from the elliptical contour of the rack. A substantially immediate engagement of the rack with the guide rail is obtained by mean of a spring catch lever 212 which is positioned near each roller 21.1. lever 212 is arranged for latching engagement with a holding bar 213 which is arranged longitudinally on each side of the table 149 and at the bottom thereof. As shown in Fig. 15, the table 149 is rotated in the direction indicated .by the arrows. The catch lever 212 and each bar 213 are relatively positioned so that engagement of the catch lever with a bar does not occur until after a fiat side of the rack 208 is in a position to be substantially completely engaged by the guide rail 209. catch lever 212 during the engagement of the flat side of the rack with the guide rail it is positively retained for elliptical rotation corresponding to the contour of the elliptical rack 208.

Removal of the supporting table 149 "from the machine is obtained by simply lifting the table to disengage the rack 208 from the gear 129. In the making of a circular spiral coil the supporting table shown in Figs. 23 and 267is substituted for the supporting table 149. The table 214 includes an 'upper base 216 and a lower base 211. An annular flanged portion 218 is mounted centrally of the lower side of the table 214 and is of a size adapted to fit within a circular recess 209 formed in the upper face of the gear 129. The table 214 is retained on the gear by a screw 221 which extends through an aperture formed at the center of the table and is threadably secured in the end of shaft 121. The screw 221 normally retains the gear 129 in position on the shaft 121 as indicated in Fig. 25. The machine is thus quickly. changed to make either oval or circular coils by simply manipulating the single screw 221 and mounting either a table 149 or 214 on the gear 129. It is to be understood or course that the construction of each table 149 and 214 is identical for-the complete machine and that the machine operates to turn out aplurality of either the oval or the circular shaped coils. v 1

When making a run of a desired coil size and shape it is readily apparent that any change in the length of the coil winding affects directly the electrical characteristics of the coil. Thus a uniform construction and hence uniform electrical characteristics for a, particular run of coils are obtained by positively setting the-cutter 58 to 'the same starting position and cutting the groove 32 to a redetermined length. Setting of the cutter 58 toits starting position is accom- The.

Since the table is held by the pllshed in part by the stop 202, previously men-,

tioned. However, it is apparent that any changes in the meshing engagement of the worm 169 and the screw shaft 168 at the starting position directly varies the traverse of the cutter 58 on the plate 31. Any changes in this meshing engagement are eliminated in the present invention by the worm gear assembly 222 (Figs. 15 and 2'7) which includesthe worm gear 199 and an adjustable hub portion 223 arranged between the flatplate projections 224 and 226 at'the carriage extension 111. A screw 221 extends through the plate 224 .for threaded engagement in the hub 223, but off center therefrom. A second screw 228 in coaxial alignment with the screw 221 extends through the plate 226 and is threadably secured at one end in the hub 223, its opposite end being frictionally clamped in a lever arm 229. On loosening of the screw 221 and release of the lever 229, the hub portion and worm are freely movable relative to the screw shaft 168 for varying the degree of back lash between the gear and the screw shaft. Adjustment of the gear to reduce this back lash to a minimum is accomplished by rotating the hub 223 which is eccentrically mounted on the screw 22'1, tightening of the screw 22'1 frictionally looking the hub on the late 224 to maintain the adjusted clearance. This tightening of the screw 221, however, does not affect the gear 169 which remains freely rotatable On the hub portion 223. In the moving of the carriage 133 by the screw shaft 168 the lever 2291s operated to frictionally lock the gear 169 to the plate 226. Thus on rotation of the screw 168 the gear is threaded along the screw shaft whereby to move the carriage 133 thereon. When it is desired to move the carriage 133 to its starting position against thestop 202, the lever 229 is operated to release the gear 169 to permit the gear to rotate on the screw shaft 168. Thus on the return-of the carriage 133 to its starting positionagainst the stop 202, the gear 169 continues in meshing engagement with the screw shaft 168. By virtue of this continuous meshing engagement the operation of the lever 229 to frictionally lockthe gear 169, therefore, does not alter in any way the position of the carriage frame relative to the stop 202, and hence the starting position of the cutter 58. The cutter 58 is thus positively set at all times to the same starting position since the occurrence of any possible lost motion or take up in back lash in the carriage driving system is entirely eliminated. This starting position for all of the cutters 58 is accomplished by a uniform and simultaneous movement of all portions of the carriage structure 133. Thus as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 a gear rack 231 is mounted on each of the frame structures 123 tions are of a relatively large widthback lash in the following description. The carriage 133 is moved to its starting position, as shown in Fig.

i6, with the portion I12 in abutting engagement 'with the stop 292. the location of'the stop 292 on the frame portion I23 being determined in correspondence with the size of the coil to be made. With the carriage I33 in its starting posiand element I31 are maintained by coil springs- 234 and 236, respectively.- Each spring 236 (Figs. 19 and 22) for the guiding element I31 is connected at one end to the carriage mounting bracket I34 and at its opposite end, to "a. sup-Q porting arm MI. The construction and arrangement of the springs is such that the spring pressure moves the arms I4| upwardly when the element I31 is in its rest position, and acts to hold the element I31 in engagement with the plate 3| when the element i in its operated position. It is seen, therefore, that a neutral positionoccurs intermediate the two operating positions so that the direction of the spring pressureis reversed on,passage of the element I31 over this neutral position, The springs 234 operate in a similar manner on the cutter assembly 42. The cutter assembly 42 further includes a switch 231 for the motor 6| which is arranged to open the motor circuit when the cutter 58 is in its rest position. This is accomplished by having the switch positioned at the top of the assembly 42 so as to engage a portion of the mounting bracket-I34 when the assembly is in its uppermost position. are connected in parallel with the motor so that closing ofa main control switch (not shown) The switch 231 and motor 6| I49 and carriage I33. 0n rotation of the table I49 for about two revolutions the apparatus is again declutched and theguiding element I31 is moved into its operating position relative to the cutter 58 as is shown in Figs. 21 and 22. It is to be understood, of course,that the cutter 58 and element I31 are positioned relativeto the plate 3| in a manner similar to that hereinabove fully described for the cutter 58 and disc 1| "of justing the element I31 .vertically within its holder I42, the position of the arms -.|4| relative to the plate 3| is changed, whereby to vary the spring pressure exerted by the element on the plate. However, the pressure on the arms I must at all times be sufllcient to overcome any tendency ofthe winding 34 tollit the element I31 from the plate 3| during the unwinding of the wire from the spool I41. If the winding 34 is of fine wire suflicient friction must be applied to the spool I41 to eliminate any backlash or snagging of the wire. This friction is obtained by a spring tensioned arm 233 (Fig. 16) which is supported on a pivot member 239 for the spool I41 in a manner to apply a brake on the spool. In the event the winding 34 isof relatively heavy wire the tendency to backlash is appreciably reduced so that the braking of the spool I41 is correspondingly reduced. Since the braking action directly affects the tendency of the wire to raise theelement I31 from the .plate 3| during the 34 may be attachedto pegs or like means 241' which are mounted in the table I49 near one side of the mounting plate 3 Onmovement of the element I 31 to its operated to-operate the table I49 and the carriage I33; the cutting of the groove 32'and the laying of the winding 34 therein proceeding concurrently as the carriage moves across the plate 3|. As the cutter 53 nearsthe completionof its operation the control lever |9I is tripped or pulled ,beyond its vertical or neutral position. by the spring 2II| whereby to reduce the rotational speed of the table I49. This progress of the cutting operation is indicated to'the operator by this drop in table speed. Substantially immediately with this reduction in the speed of the table the cutter 58' is-lifted out of engagement'with the plate 3| and to its rest position by means now to be described, the rotation of the cutter 53 being stopped on engagement of the switch 231 with the apparatus in Figs. 1 through '1. That is, the

aixs of the shaft 59 of the motor BI is initially positioned in vertical parallel alignment with one of the axes of the elliptical rack 203 so that'thecutter 58 on movement of the carriage I33 is moved transversely of the plate 3| along the selected axis. Since the axes of theelement I31 and the shaft 59 are also in alignment, the element I31 is similarly moved across the plate 3| on the line of the selected axis.

As previously noted, the guiding end of the element I31 is in sliding engagement with the plate 3| and operates to position the winding 34 within the mounting bracket I34. The cutter assembly" near the switch in Figs. 15 and 22, the chain 2 is entirely slack. 4 when the cutter is in cutting engagement with the plate 3|, so that all of the pressure of the springs 236 is applied on the collars 32 and 133 durlngthe cutting operation. A spring 243 is connected 'at one end to a portion or the carriage structure I33 and at its opposite end-to a grooved pulley 244 mountedon the shaft 242,.the spring being arranged soas to be placed under tension when the shaft is rotated in a counterclock- 'wisedirection'as viewed in' Fig. 22. Thus with m is- .pivotally connected to one end of a chain or a the spring 243 in its wound position the shaft 242 is tensioned to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 22. The tension of the spring 243 in its wound position is retained by a reset lever 249 which is mounted on the shaft 242 and releasably engageable with a plunger 24! for a normally deenergized solenoid 248. On energization ;of the solenoid 248, therefore, the plunger is actuated to release the lever 248 whereby to permit a free rotation of the shaft 242 in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 22. By virtue of the chain connection 24I this direction of rotation of the shaft winds the chain about the shaft to in turn raise the cutter assembly 42 to its rest position.

Energization of the solenoid 243 is accomplished by a switch 249 which is adiustably mounted on the frame structure I23 and is arranged to be closed by the carriage I33 when the groove 32 is of a desired length. Since the control assembly I9II93 operates to maintain a substantially uniform rate of cutting thegroove 32, the tripping of the lever i9I to reduce the rotation .of speed of the table I43 thus occurs sub,- stantially simultaneously with the closing of the switch 249 by the carriage I33. It is thus seen that the neutral position of the lever I 9| and the adjusted position of the switch 249 on the frame portion I23 are set relative to each other. The slowing down of the table I49 is utilized to facilitate the layingof the winding 34 in the groove 32 on lifting of the cutter assembly 42 to its rest position. With a slow table rotation the table revolutions are easily counted by the operator. As was previously noted the element I3! is moved into its operating position after the cutter has completed about two loops of the groove 32. These two loops corresponding to about two revolutions of the table are counted by the operator to complete the layin of the winding 34 in the groove 32, it being understood that the element I31 remains in operation after the cutter is lifted to its rest position. On completion of the wire laying operation the clutch lever I19 is actuated to stop the operation of the apparatus, and the winding 34 is out prior to a lifting of the element I31 to its rest position. The completed coil is then removed from the supporting table I49.

In arranging the apparatus for the cutting of another coil, the lever 229 is operated to release the frictional locking of the worm gear I69 by the plate portion 225 and the carriage I33 is manually moved to its starting position, after which the gear IE9 is again frictionally locked by the lever 229. By virtue of the springs I98 and I associated with the control assembly l9I- I93, this assembly i returned to its startingposition concurrently with the positioning of the carriage I33; Since the reset lever for the shaft above-described operation of the apparatus is re-' Peated.

In the making of a coil having a. spiral circular loop the table 2 I4 is substituted for the table I49.

Apart from this change the operation oi" the ap- 74 asses ac paratus is identical for both the making of elliptical and circular coils. It is to be understood that the wire-laying assembly described in Figs. 1

ll, 12 and 13, is also applicable to the apparatus in Figs. 14 to 27.

By virtue of the high-speed rotation, of the cutter 58, which in actual practice varies from about 5,000 to 10,000 E. P. M., considerable dust or line out particles are formed during the cutting operation. Since this dust-is objectionable to the operator of the machine, it is contemplated that the carriage I33 be of hollow construction and provided with suitable inlet openings therein for the connection of flexible tubing portions 25 I the .free ends of which are supported on arms 252 mounted on each of the bracket members I34. (Figs. 14, 15 and 19.) The inlet ends of the tubes 25I are thus positioned adjacent the cutter 53 when in its operating position and movable with the cutter'58 over the entire length of the groove 32. A suction blower or the like (not shown) may be suitably attached to an outlet 253 in the top portion of the carriage I33 so that the cut particles from the cutter 58 are immediately drawn into the tube portions 25I, and through the outlet 253 for disposition. s

The invention thus provides an improved apparatus for making coils of fiat type eiilciently and at a minimum of cost so as to make such coils commercially available at a relatively cheap cost. So far as is known the forming of a spiral groove having sound, unbroken edges in a shreddaible:

' material such as cardboard or the like was never commercially accomplished prior to applicant's invention.

It is to be understood that only preferred eminvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for making a coil including s. rotary table for supportin a mounting member for said coil, rotatable .cutting means for forming a groove in a side of said membenmeans for supporting said cutting means in a cutting engagement with said mounting member, means for moving said cutti'ng means across said mounting member and in a direction substantially axially of said cutting means to provide for the cutting of a spiral groove, and wire laying means movable with said cutter and operable to position a wirein the groove formed by said cutter.

2. Apparatus for cutting a spiral groove in one sided a supporting member for a coil of fiat type, a rotary table for supporting said member, means for rotating said table, rotatable cutting means having a cutting edge engageable with said one side, means for rotating said cutting means at a substantially uniform speed, means for moving said cutting means at a uniform rate acros said one side of the supporting member in a direction from the circumference toward the center thereof, means for varying the rotational speed of said table, and control means in operative engagement with said cutter moving means and speed varying means, said control means being actuated by movement of said cutter moving means toward the center of said supporting member to uniformly increase the rotational speed of said table so that the said groove is cut at a substantially uniform rate over its complete length.

3. Apparatus for cutting a spiral, groove in one side of a mounting member for a coil of flat type 

